The term “art” encompasses a large variety of works, from paintings to sculptures, architecture to design, and in modern times, digital art. Everyone can appreciate and marvel at art, and being subjective in nature, different art forms appeal to different people. Art appreciation, however, refers to the exploration and analysis of the art forms that we are exposed to. It can be highly subjective, depending on an individual’s personal tastes and preferences, or can be done on the basis of several grounds such as elements of design and mastery displayed in the piece. Art appreciation also involves a deeper look into the setting and historical implication and background of the piece, a study of it’s origins.

HOW CAN CHILDREN EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH ART

In a study published in 2011, it was found that children even up to the age of 10 find it very difficult to express themselves. They find it difficult to convert feelings, (many of them that which they have experienced for the first time) into a tangible and coherent form of expression. Every child goes through different milestones of development at different ages. While a 2.5 year old may easily be able to string together sentences, another child of a similar age may still be struggling with simple words.

Since children find it so difficult to express themselves, and parents find it even more so to understand their feelings, it becomes important to show them other ways of venting out.

Like adults, children feel the need to verbalize their fears and concerns, let it all out. They look to elders to give them a sense of security when everything around them seems alien and abnormal. Children, like adults, love the comfort and routine of a normal life, when they are acknowledged, when they are listened to, and when they know that there is someone who understands them.

TEACHING CHILDREN HOW TO USE ART TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES

Children haven’t had it so hard in a long while as they do now. The idyllic phase of a few years ago when they grew up peaceful at their own pace, away from the harshness of th

e world has now turned into growth that is sudden, fast and has also opened up an awareness in them that the world can be dangerous and they need to fight for their survival.

Among the various factors threatening the innocence of our children, is SEXUAL ABUSE. A recent April 2014 compilation of Sexual Abuse research findings has shown that;

1 in 20 children under 12 years of age, have been sexually abused.

Over 90% of children who have experienced it, were abused by someone they knew.

David Elkind, professor of child study, Senior Resident Scholar at Tufts University, and author of The Hurried Child: Growing Up Too Fast, Too Soon (1988) also points out another factor that is equally dangerous. “Our society is compressing childhood more and more to where children are not children for very long,” he says. “Children are under tremendous pressure to ‘be mature’ and to ‘grow up’ when they have not had the chance to develop emotional maturity.” This is a trend not only in the United States but throughout the industrialized world, including Europe, Canada, Australia, Japan and Britain. “It’s a difficult time for parents,” Elkind says, “because there are so many pressures from society that are unhealthy.”

All of us as parents love and are proud of our children’s artistic works. We know that their art and its expression form an important part of their growing up years.

We cherish the rough raw paintings they make on charts as toddlers, hang their artwork around the house, take everyone possible to their creative performances and keep everything tucked away to be cherished in the future. Arts are as such very meaningful to parents and their children. And why not, since they are expressive of the child’s inherent talents.